2011 Holiday Season--Birth of a New Tradition

We don’t know where this originated, but Sandy Brewer of Blaine Community Theater forwarded it us and we whole-heartedly endorse the concept. Despite the frequent references to Christmas, it does apply to the entire holiday season.

As the holidays approach, the giant Asian factories are kicking into high gear to provide Americans with monstrous piles of cheaply produced goods--merchandise that has been produced at the expense of American labor. This year will be different. This year Americans will give the gift of genuine concern for other Americans. There is no longer an excuse that, at gift giving time, nothing can be found that is produced by American hands. Yes there is!

It's time to think outside the box, people. Who says a gift needs to fit in a shirt box, wrapped in Chinese produced wrapping paper?

Everyone--yes EVERYONE gets their hair cut. How about gift certificates from your local American hair salon or barber?

Gym membership? It's appropriate for all ages who are thinking about some health improvement.

Who wouldn't appreciate getting their car detailed? Small, American owned detail shops and car washes would love to sell you a gift certificate or a book of gift certificates.

Are you one of those extravagant givers who think nothing of plonking down the Benjamins on a Chinese made flat-screen? Perhaps that grateful gift receiver would like his driveway sealed, or lawn mowed for the summer, or driveway plowed all winter, or games at the local golf course.

There are a bazillion owner-run restaurants--all offering gift certificates. And, if your intended isn't the fancy eatery sort, what about a half dozen breakfasts at the local breakfast joint. Remember, folks this
isn't about big National chains--this is about supporting your home town Americans with their financial lives on the line to keep their doors open.

How many people couldn't use an oil change for their car, truck or motorcycle, done at a shop run by the American working guy?

Thinking about a heartfelt gift for mom? Mom would LOVE the services of a local cleaning lady for a day.

My computer could use a tune-up, and I KNOW I can find some young guy who is struggling to get his repair business up and running.

OK, you were looking for something more personal. Local crafts people spin their own wool and knit them into scarves. They make jewelry, and pottery and beautiful wooden boxes.

Plan your holiday outings at local, owner operated restaurants and leave your server a nice tip. And, how about going out to see a play or ballet at your hometown theatre.

Musicians need love too, so find a venue showcasing local bands.

Honestly, people, do you REALLY need to buy another ten thousand Chinese lights for the house? When you buy a five dollar string of lights, about fifty cents stays in the community. If you have those kinds of bucks to burn, leave the mailman, trash guy or babysitter a nice BIG tip.

You see, Christmas is no longer about draining American pockets so that China can build another glittering city. Christmas is now about caring about US, encouraging American small businesses to keep plugging away to follow their dreams. And, when we care about other Americans, we care about our communities, and the benefits come back to us in ways we couldn't imagine.

THIS is the new American Christmas tradition.

Forward this to everyone on your mailing list--post it to discussion groups -- throw up a post on Craigslist in the Rants and Raves section in your city--send it to the editor of your local paper and radio stations, and TV news departments. This is a revolution of caring about each other, and isn't that what Christmas is about?

Sandy ended by saying “...and I would add to the list such things as theater tickets, locally produced movies or CD's and music by local groups as well. Been in a film lately? Send a copy of it to a friend as a gift.”

Right here in Birch Bay we have restaurants and coffee shops, a yarn and gift shop, a thrift and consignment store and other businesses working hard to stay open. Just outside Birch Bay, a creamery sells delicious cheeses, a dog and cat center offers day-care, and other restaurants and businesses seek your support.

Shop local and build Birch Bay, Whatcom County, Washington State and America.

rah

Vote for the Park & Rec Levy

And tell your friends and neighbors to vote.

There is a flyer around that lists, with pictures, the accomplishments of the revived Northwest Park & Recreation District, that mirrors the boundaries of the Blaine School District, with the exception of Point Roberts.

Most visible in Birch Bay is the gym at Bay Horizon County Park at a cost of $153,000. Outside the building, Park & Rec purchased a playground set for $35,000. With the County demolishing unnecessary buildings,and the Lions Clubs refurbishing dorm buildings and the hostel, this park is now a community asset.

Ball fields will be built after this levy is approved.

But Park and Rec is not just about sports. The District has supported a wide range of recreational programs ranging from exercise machines at the Blaine Senior Center, safe bike and walking trails, dog parks, sailing and swimming lessons that benefit people of all ages and physical abilities. See more accomplishments at http://nwparkandrec.org/districtaccomplishments.html.

The amount of the levy is 10 cents per $1,000 of assessed valuation, or $30 per year for a home valued at $300,000. The levy will be applied to your tax bill for six years, allowing for prudent planning and economical construction. This is a bargain any way you figure–for your family, for your community and for your home due to the likely increased value.

Where else do you get more value for a dime?

ak

The Slow Food Challenge

Slow Food, like many great movements in history, began with a tipping point. That was in 1986 when McDonald's opened a fast food restaurant near the Spanish Steps in Rome. Carlo Petrini, then writing culinary articles for two Communist publications, was outraged, calling for preservation of traditional and regional cuisine. Three years later the founding Manifesto of the International Slow Food Movement was signed in Paris by delegates from 15 countries, “Not so much as a protest against the restaurant chain as a protest against big international business interests,” to quote Wikipedia.

Now Mr. Petrini heads the University of Gastronomic Sciences whose mission is to bridge the gap between agriculture and gastronomy. The Slow Food Movement has chapters in 132 countries. The structure is decentralized. Each chapter has a leader who is responsible for creating and promoting local events.

Last year we participated in a tuna canning organized by Jeremy Brown, who was recently appointed Fisheries Ambassador to the International Sustainability unit of the Prince Charles Trust. This was an event of the Fourth Corner Slow Food Chapter.

In August the Fourth Corner leader, Diana Campbell issued a $5 challenge for Saturday, September 17. Could we arrange a dinner that would cost no more per person than we would pay at a Jack in the Box (where we have never been but whose commercials we like best)? We asked two couples with whom we dine regularly to join us.

Naomi and Roger brought a large salad with blue cheese from the Co-op and greens from their garden.

Last year we participated in a tuna canning organized by Jeremy Brown, who was recently appointed Fisheries Ambassador to the International Sustainability unit of the Prince Charles Trust. This was an event of the Fourth Corner Slow Food Chapter.

In August the Fourth Corner leader, Diana Campbell issued a $5 challenge for last Saturday, September 17. Could we arrange a dinner that would cost no more per person than we would pay at a Jack in the Box, where we have never been but whose commercials we like best? We asked two couples with whom we eat regularly to join us.

Naomi and Roger brought a large salad with blue cheese from the Co-op and greens from their garden. For dessert, also from their garden, they brought strawberries and blueberries with some wild blackberries.

Irene made a casserole of zucchini, onions, mushrooms and Feta cheese. Jack, her husband, brought a large – and inexpensive bottle – of white Italian wine. We wrapped small portions of Jeremy's tuna in lettuce leaves for hors d'oeuvre, then grilled chicken breasts with slices of red pepper on charcoal.

All agreed it was the best meal we have had together in memory. While we didn't request sales slips, we're reasonably certain we stayed within the $30 budget.

For information about the Fourth Corner Slow Food Chapter, the new leader is Lisa Dailey at lisa@ladailey.com.

ak

BP's Biennial Open House

Each time I've attended the BP refinery's open house at Cherry Point--three times in the last eight years--I've been impressed with their good-neighbor efforts, attention to safety and positive employee relations. While I can't pretend to know anything about any other unit of this huge corporation, this one seems to be on the right track.On October 16, along with about 400 of my friends and neighbors, I waited for a bus while browsing the poster presentations and chatting with the staff on hand to answer questions. Another squadron of staff was managing parking, providing beverages, donuts and sweet rolls under the shelter of an immense tent, and others were conducting people onto the fleet of Belle-Air buses on the tarmac in the employee recreation area.

Because I missed my intended bus due to an unfortunately timed trip to the toilet, the wait seemed long in the brisk morning air. Once aboard, our guide, Ron Petty welcomed us with jokes about charging for the treat and an introduction of himself. He retired from being a BP operator from 1966 to 1999 and has returned to service.

For the next 45 minutes or so, he kept us informed about the history and operation of the refinery. Starting in the 1950's, the plant has changed hands several times and now employees about 800 people with another 800 contractors on site at any given time. (They are constantly hiring--see Careers at www.bp.com.) This labor force produces about 9.6 million gallons of product every day.

All vessels (tanks) are taken down and inspected every five years. BP does this on a rotating schedule that creates a six-to-eight week "turn-around" every year or two. Birch Bay residents and businesses are familiar with this event that brings a thousand or so workers into the area.

The new and improved feature of this tour was the stop at the Shops facility, where we got off the bus, received safety goggles, and were escorted into the huge new (move-in November 2010) building on the Grandview Road side of the property. After a general introduction, we visited demonstration sites in the Instrument and Electrical Shop, the Machine Shop and the Maintenance Shop, where we learned about pumps and impellers (getting a freshly minted miniature impeller key-ring from the computer driven machine).

Tiana Osborne, a maintenance technician, was a welder before she joined BP and the other welders, pipefitters, fabricators, valve specialists and equipment operators in the Maintenance Shop.

Returning to the main tent, we were treated to lunch and a piece of the 40th Anniversary cake. In discussion with Michael Abendhoff, Director of Government and Public Affairs, who was responsible for organizing this event, he said that the Stores building might be on the next tour where we would see many of the items used on a regular basis--sign me up!

rah

You Could Contribute to an Islamic Relief Fund (or Invest in a Fund that Follows Islamic Principles)

Next weekend undoubtedly there will be anti-Muslim stuff about “the enemy” but, really, we should recognize that a great many people of that faith in the world had nothing to do with the attack on the World Trade Center, the Pentagon and the plane that was forced down in Pennsylvania. When politicians harangue about “the enemy”, it would be better to express kindness to the many Muslims who bear no ill against our country and—in some cases—are suffering from our actions.

Last month we enjoyed a dinner with a remarkable group of such people. The program included a film about the suffering from the famine in Somalia, and we contributed to Islamic Relief, a fund that is providing water and food for those Somalian drought victims—$20 each, the requested donation, feeds a family of four for a month.

We owe this opportunity to Ruth's attendance at Western. In one of her first classes she became friends with Alaa, a young man from Egypt. He and his professor friend came to our cottage for Thanksgiving that year. We had a long, lively conversation about Muslim customs, including relations between men and women—courtship, marriage and divorce.

Back then, Alaa washed dishes in a Bellingham restaurant to cover some of his expenses. This spring Ruth re-connected with him, and we had lunch at the Skylark Restaurant where he had worked. Alaa was excited about the revolution in Egypt. He had just heard from his brother who had gone from his home in Alexandria to Cairo to be part of the demonstrations.

Alaa was now working at Saturna Capital in Bellingham, an investment company sponsoring a mutual fund that follows Islamic principles (or Sharia) that preclude interest paying investments, such as bank stocks. While some of the investors are Muslims—Alaa's ability with Arabic being an advantage— many are not. This is not a charity. The Amana Income Fund has averaged an annual return of 7.49 percent over the past 10 years versus the S&P 500 Index that has averaged only 2.70 percent. Only one other fund in the Schwab list of income funds did better in that period.

Alaa also was doing well in his personal life. Through mosque connections he was introduced to a young woman in Southern California. Shortly before our lunch date, his mother had come from Egypt to meet the girl's family. That went fine but Alaa would need to go back to meet her father, a businessman who was visiting Afghanistan. If all went well, they would become engaged and she would move to Bellingham. There was also the possibility that Alaa might move to California to work with fund clients there.

In early August we received an e-mail from Alaa inviting us to the fund-raising dinner. Nothing about betrothal, but we were hopeful.

The dinner was held in the RESources meeting room. Prior to the meal some of the participants prayed on rugs in an adjacent room before breaking the Ramadan fast.

Meanwhile, we talked with a magnetic young woman who was acting as hostess in the absence of the Iman. A graduate of Blaine High School, she has been holding down a full-time job at the BP refinery while taking a full schedule of courses at the community college and the university. She is preparing to be a physical therapist in an eight-year program that will graduate her as a doctor.

The food was much like a typical American pot-luck—several pasta dishes, rice, roast lamb, deep fried chicken and shrimp. Desserts came later. Pepsi was the most common drink. Alaa's wife was mentioned. We kept looking and asking. Finally, there she was. Beautiful – and sweet!

ak & rah

We Went Whale Watching

Ruth's work with volunteers at the Birch Bay Chamber of Commerce Visitors' Information Center earned us a certificate for a whale watching tour that we used last week. The San Juan Cruises boat is the one that previously made daily trips from the Fairhaven Cruise Terminal to Victoria, B.C. and back. When we took that trip a couple of years ago, we saw some whales on the homeward leg. This time we got to see two pods of resident Orcas.

It took two and a half hours to get to our destination, off the northern tip of San Juan Island. Captain Grant broke up the time by describing the history and features of the islands we passed. Abundant coffee, tea, soda, beer, wine and snacks kept everyone happy. When we found the whales, the captain identified the members of Pod K and L, giving their names, relationships, and ages. Some are very old; some were born this year.

Getting good pictures was difficult. One reason is that the whales are not publicity seekers. They make no effort to help picture-takers by coming to the surface consistently at the same points. Another reason is they don't stay up long enough for photographers to focus.

Outside the cabin on a narrow walkway, we found a vantage point with a railing against which we were able to hold our cameras somewhat steady. We considered ourselves lucky to get this picture even though the focus is not sharp.

These tours are important business. There were three other tour boats in the area, a few fishing boats and several individual recreational ones. Captains of fishing boats radio to other boats – including tour boats – the location of the pods. Adult whales eat about 250 pounds of salmon per day and fishermen follow the whales to find the salmon.

After about 90 minutes of looking for and watching the whales, we had a two-hour break in Friday Harbor, which was crowded with tourists.

Meanwhile, the hard-working crew – one young man and two young women – were preparing food for the trip back. Being small eaters on a diet, we chose only salmon and salad. Others piled their plates high with rolls, rice, chicken and salmon. (What prompts people to select chicken rather than salmon?) Dessert, including brownies and cheesecake, came later.

We decided this was one of the best days we've had since moving here eight years ago. Well worth the $89 other people paid.

San Juan Cruises, Fairhaven Cruise Terminal. wwwwhales.com 1-800-443-4552

Whale watching trips are available daily until after Labor Day, then Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays until September 25, 2011. The season starts again in mid-May 2012.

ak & rah

The recently opened Jack Niemann's Black Forest Steak House is a worthy addition to the northwestern corner of the county.

Since we moved to Birch Bay eight years ago, CJ's Beachhouse (and its predecessor) has been the place we take visitors. The Black Forest is now our place for special occasions. We will continue to go to CJ's. (Last Tuesday we were there for two meals – the Chamber luncheon and again in the early evening with Eli Friedlob, Matt Krogh of RE Sources, and Robin Everett of the Sierra Club who were responsible for The Coal Hard Truth event later that evening. Also there was Lindsay Taylor, formerly of N-SEA and now part of the RE Sources team.)

Our special dinner at Black Forest was August 13 for our 201^st lunaversary (we celebrate months of marriage). After we split a garlic prawns appetizer, we both had small filets Oskar, a very good use of artichokes, followed by Black Forest Cake – just one piece with two forks, and we took half home. This meal called for two glasses of wine. First a Pinot Grigio, then a Malbec from Argentina. The price, over $100, was well worth this meal.

This past Saturday we went to the art show at Birch Bay Square. Should we eat at the burger place? But we had seen the Black Forest Happy Hour Bar Menu in the Northern Light. Between four and six we could eat as inexpensively as burger prices. When we sat down in the big dining room where we had eaten the week before, we were quickly told that the Happy Hour menu is only available in the bar. There we found more people than in the dining room, yet Bob the bartender was prepared to treat us well.

This time we split the Scallops Christina and three glasses of the same wines as the week before.

Ruth ordered Olympic Crab Cakes and Al a “naked burger” (no bun) with mushrooms. For each of these items we paid less than $10, bringing the total to $45.60 with tax before tip. When we got home we found a little piece of last week's Black Forest Cake in the fridge. We both had enough with glasses of Citra Merlot from Rite Aid.

For someone who started his first restaurant in White Rock in 1968 and now has 49 of them, Jack Niemann may be the most modest owner in the world. The hostesses are dressed like LA, the waiters wear black pants and white shirts with ties, but Jack sports worn jeans and a simple golf shirt. And he enjoys talking with people – no airs.

He quickly agrees that the room, converted from a bank building, is too noisy (he is hiring an acoustal expert to change that), and he is delighted with success: “Friday night was crazy!”

“Bob, the bartender,” Jack says, “was explaining to a couple that we have this nice little local wine; the couple said 'That's us; we own the Dakota Creek Winery'.”

P.S. Steve, the master waiter who used to work at CJ's – he smoothly served the BBCC luncheons by himself – is now at Black Forest.

The Coal Hard Truth Forum

Answers about the proposed coal terminal at Cherry Point

7 - 9 p.m., August 16
Birch Bay Bible Community Church
7039 Jackson Road, Birch Bay

There are a lot of questions about the controversial proposal to build North America's largest coal terminal next to the Cherry Point Aquatic Reserve. Come to the Coal Hard Truth forum to get answers about the project proposal, its potential impacts on hum and ecological health, and how coal consumption impacts us all.

Learn more about: The terminal proposal itself -- Coal dust from the terminal -- Health impacts from 18 more trains a day -- Where we are in the regulatory process -- Regional and international perspectives -- What you can do

Sponsors: Sierra Club, RE Sources, and Climate Solutions

rah

About Community Councils

At the recent Birch Bay forum for County Executive candidates, David Stalheim suggested that, if incorporation is not feasible now, we might consider a community council such as some operated in Chelan County.

I've taken a quick look at two councils in unincorporated Washington communities – Manson with about 3,500 people near Chelan, and Peshastin, much smaller, near Leavenworth. Both councils, I was told, grew out of the groups that had created their UGAs.

At www.peshastin.org you will find the by-laws of their council, which has seven members who serve three-year terms. They “have no legal authority to impose binding conditions, contracts or requirements...but may issue advisory opinions.” Members serve without compensation; the council has no borrowing authority, but may solicit donations and distribute funds.

As illustrated, the Peshastin Community Council (blue line) covers a larger geographic area than the UGA (salmon line with purple fill). The larger salmon/purple area to the upper left is Leavenworth.

LilithYanagumachi, a long-range planner, of the Chelan County Department of Community Development, said that the councils are helpful in establishing zoning criteria and in representing their communities to the County Commissioners. But she added that individuals coming before the commissioners can have as much stature as the councils.

Members of the council, whose terms are rotated, are elected at annual meetings. Cathy Springer, vice chair of the Peshastin council, explained that candidates – she called them “volunteers” – complete an application form that includes the signatures of 10 people who endorse the candidacy. At the meeting, the forms are on display and voters put names they are voting for in a box. Ms. Springer added that at the last meeting, when she was re-elected, there was only one candidate each for the two vacant positions.

Interest in the council heats up, she said, “When crap hits the fan.”

On the last Saturday in July, Friends of the Peshastin Library held an ice cream social that brought the community together and raised funds for the public library.

ak

Four Strong Contenders for County Executive

The take-home from last Thursday evening's forum is that we are fortunate to have four strong candidates for County Executive. With mail-in ballots now out, the “non-partisan” primary election goes on until August 16. The two leaders from that vote will contend for the general election in November.

Tom Anderson told us he is the engineer administrator with problem solving skills. After a somewhat rocky opening statement that he read, Anderson demonstrated that he is a skilled communicator. His spontaneous answers to questions were miniature essays of clarity.

Doug Erickson is the seasoned politician, born with charisma, who has served in the state legislature for the 13 years since he was age 28. One of the state's strongest proponents for free enterprise, he said he believes businesses create jobs. If Erickson becomes County Executive, he could make Whatcom County into a little Texas – there are parallels in refining and farming. You can imagine how he might become a candidate for governor.

A robust Jack Louws comes on as experienced in both government, as an two-term mayor of Lynden, and business man, who headed a successful truss manufacturing company inherited from his father and now passed on to his son. Living in Birch Bay, he demonstrated an interest in the community and ventured the advice that incorporation would require urban streets that are more expensive than rural roads.

David Stalheim, ousted as the county's planning director and the progressives favorite was a pleasingly smart and witty debater. In contrast to Erickson, he said government can provide the framework for businesses to create jobs. His most telling point was that the county is sitting on an economic development fund of over $10 million from which only $1.5 million has been spent to improve the civic center. He suggested that some of that money could be invested in Birch Bay's berm project. Stalheim could win if Bellingham liberals rally to get out their vote in opposition to the Tea Party followers who dispute the state's growth-management act. Asked for advice for Birch Bay on incorporation, Stalheim said that first the county executive should sit down with community leaders to review the feasibility study that has been largely ignored. An alternative, he suggested, could be a “community council” similar to that operating in Manson, a resort community on Lake Chelan

This debate, hosted by Kathy Berg, of the Birch Bay Steering Committee, and moderated by John Gargett, President of the Birch Bay Camber of Commerce, spoke well for the potential of the community.

~~

About the coal trains, the consensus in this discussion was largely that, if environmental controls are established and enforced, the bulk coal dock at Cherry Point could be approved.

A detailed discussion of this issue can be found at www.getwhatcomplanning.blogspot.com, operated by Jean Melious and David Stalheim

ak

[Comments gratefully encouraged.]

The first parade participant we saw out our window on Saturday, July 16, 2011, was the indefatigable County Council member, Barbara Brenner, in rain garb, standing in the bed of a red pickup truck. When last seen Brenner, currently the longest serving Council member, was still standing on the truck.

Flush from a positive article that week in the Cascadia Weekly, Tom Anderson, described by editor Tim Johnson as an “underdog in the race for County Executive”, wearing just a suit despite the drizzle, walked the whole parade route speaking enthusiastically to bystanders. (Unfortunately, many were not Whatcom voters.)

But the most exhuberant campaigner was Ruby May, who darted from one side of the parade to the other putting Anderson cards, fortunately encased in plastic, in the hands of smiling participants regardless of residence. Little Miss May was celebrated in Whatcom politics in 2009 when she appeared tearfully before a closed library in an ad that was credited with winning that levy.

Ruby is the daughter of Richard May, who managed that campaign. The previous year he was an organizer for Barack Obama in several states. Richard, who was also passing out Anderson cards, said he is working for him and other Democrat candidates in Whatcom.

Found standing quietly among the onlookers before Sunday's Ducky Derby, was Bellingham's mayor, Dan Pike. Congratulated for his stand against the coal trains and the proposed pier at Cherry Point for shipping coal to China, he said he is pleased that the mayors of Seattle, Tacoma and other cities have joined the fray. And he is particularly pleased that the Washington Department of Ecology has also joined. “That means,” he said, “Whatcom County will not foot the legal bills.”

ak

Learning About Community Gardens

For six months we planned a trip to Boston for a commencement ceremony of Ruth's granddaughter who finished at Emerson College in December; they have only one ceremony in May. Originally, the plan was to drive the whole way there and back, and we spent hours plotting distances between what we thought would be interesting points along Highway 2 – there weren't very many.

However, after filling our gas tank one day for almost $50, we concluded in unison: “Let's fly.” We boiled our “interesting places” down to two: Cape Cod, which we had both visited years ago, and the Berkshires that neither of us had explored before.

On the Cape we had a timeshare with room enough for Ruth's son and his family, four people including the graduate. This was at Falmouth, a very nice town at the inner Cape. But the weather was disappointingly like Birch Bay: rain most days.

On a walk in Falmouth one morning we explored a neat housing development – houses are spiffy on the Cape – that led to a community garden, which supplies a food bank. Spaces with water and tools are free with the understanding that participants will donate half of what they grow to the food bank, as explained by this local. He said most of the growers work hard. Generally, the beds looked impressive. Only one plot looked abandoned, and our friend said the other gardeners would be patient until taking action to expel that individual to make room for someone on the waiting list.

For several years we have talked about developing a community garden on the small lot where we've been “Farmers Growing Trees for Salmon.” This Fall the trees will be gone and the program closed.

Last year we built and planted a sample raised bed. When we returned from our trip we found our lettuce was growing well. But the cost of the raised bed makes that approach impractical. In the Spring we will offer ground spaces for planting.

For the Berkshires we scheduled a visit to the Nutrition Center in Great Barrington that is operated by Peter Stanton, nationally known for helping children prevent obesity. His message is, “Eat more vegetables.” He finds that when kids learn to cook vegetables they will want to eat more. In his kitchen the appliances and table are at kid height.

Naturally, he has a community garden on his property and the weekly farmers market is held on adjacent property that belongs to the hospital that is nearby. While clients of the Nutrition Center are all ages and incomes – half of the Center's revenue is from physician referrals paid by insurance – he wants to garden to have low-income growers who are charged $30 per year. “When people pay, they care,” Peter explains.

Three Picture Perfect Days

After all the lousy weather during the winter and spring we got some wonderful weather for the weekend. Saturday, Canada Day was OK, Sunday and Monday were “picture perfect.”

The big event for Birch Bay was the Two Buck Duck race Sunday. This was a trial run for the Really Big Event that will be held on July 17, the Sunday of Discovery Days. Then 200 ducks are offered at five bucks each.

Before the race started I talked to my duck, Morrison, who was more interested in the other ducks than my winning wishes.

The co-chairs, Brian Southwick and Mike Kent, planned, organized, and executed this event superlatively. Other members of BBCC who served were Tony Dolk, the starter who dumped the competitor ducks into Terrell Creek from the Bay Rim Condos Bridge, Ruth Higgins who plucked the winners from the water at the the finish line and Nancy Stull kept tallied the winners.

Mike Kent, calling the race, created Network TV excitement for people on the bank. In addition to organizing every detail, Brian Southwick was the East Bank duck spotter who pushed stray ducks back into the stream. I was “spotter down” on West Bank where, fortunately, there weren't as many stragglers.

The big winner was Andronetta Douglass of Birch Bay when two of her three ducks finished first and second – her $6 investment returned $40 in gift certificates to CJs BeachHouse and the Bay Cafe. Can anyone do that well in the Casinos?

Third place went to Lisa Sprague (not present at the finish) who will receive a $10 gift certificate to the Bay Cafe.

Thanks to Bob Fraser for the “spotter down” photo. He is a Canadian who enjoys his place in Leisure Park.